Boy, did I jinx the Los Angeles Dodgers with last week’s Best of Bill column.
Just a few hours after I highlighted a hale of a milestone in this season of fragility, bad luck put its foot down with a hit job on spark plug Teoscar Hernández.
I’ll never learn.
Fortunately, the injury bug hasn’t touched Noozhawk, which drew an audience of 149,925 readers this past week, according to our WordPress analytics.
What follows is my weekly recap of the Top 5 stories you were reading during that period.
You’re only jinxing yourself if you think this is a news story, because it’s not. This is my opinion column.
1. Authorities Name Santa Maria Woman Killed in Highway 101 DUI Crash
A 53-year-old Santa Maria woman was killed in a wrong-way, head-on collision on Highway 101 early on Sept. 8. The driver who allegedly caused the wreck was arrested on DUI charges.
As our Janene Scully reported, the crash occurred around 5:20 a.m. on the southbound side of the freeway between Betteravia Road and Santa Maria Way.
The California Highway Patrol said 34-year-old Kendra Cordova of Santa Maria was driving a Mazda CX-9 the wrong way on the freeway when she slammed into a Chevy Silverado driven by 63-year-old Cecilio Camacho, also of Santa Maria.
Camacho suffered critical injuries in the collision and had to be extricated from his mangled pickup truck by Santa Barbara County firefighters.
He was transported by American Medical Response ambulance to Marian Regional Medical Center for treatment.
Sheriff’s Coroner’s Bureau spokeswoman Raquel Zick told Janene that Camacho’s wife and passenger, Alma Alcorta, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Cordova was arrested on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and DUI causing great bodily injury. She was booked into the North County Jail with bail set at $100,000.
CHP Officer Maria Barriga said 9-1-1 callers began reporting a wrong-way driver north of Los Alamos at 5:13 a.m. The fatal collision happened about 10 minutes and 13 miles later.
Funeral services for Alcorta are pending, but a GoFundMe account has been established to assist her family with those costs as well as Camacho’s medical expenses.
As of Sept. 13, more than $11,000 had been raised. Click here to make an online donation.
According to a post on the site, Alcorta was “always smiling and joking with anybody she crossed paths with. She loved life and was full of happiness.”
She and her husband reportedly were on their way to work at the time of the collision.
2. Santa Barbara Mother Accused of Trying to Smother Newborn
A 20-year-old Santa Barbara woman who allegedly tried to smother her newborn baby has been charged with attempted murder in the horrifying Sept. 8 incident.
As our Janene Scully reported, Santa Barbara firefighters, police and an American Medical Response ambulance were dispatched at 8 a.m. to a Westside apartment complex in the 1100 block of San Andres Street, where the mother’s roommates had found her and her baby unresponsive.
Both were rushed to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital, where the infant was revived after significant lifesaving measures.
During the investigation, authorities said, detectives discovered evidence suggesting that the mother, Joseline Lopez-Hernandez, had tried to smother the baby.
She was subsequently arrested on charges of attempted murder and cruel or unusual punishment of a child.
As of Sept. 13, Lopez-Hernandez is being held on $1 million bail in the North County Jail in Santa Maria.
The infant’s current medical condition has not been disclosed, nor has the baby’s sex.
3. BizHawk: In a ‘Triumph of Patience,’ Alma Fonda Fina Opens in Montecito
After nearly a decade of planning, and years of papered-over windows and/or red tags, acclaimed local chef Ramon Velasquez has unveiled his latest culinary endeavor: Alma Fonda Fina in the Montecito Country Mart.
As our Josh Molina reported, the restaurant opened late last month at 1024 Coast Village Road, Suite A, the former longtime home of Little Alex’s. The venture marks Velasquez’s expansion into upscale Mexican cuisine in the area.
Known for Corazon Cocina in the Santa Barbara Public Market and Corazon Comedor downtown, Velasquez partnered with property owner Jim Rosenfield to bring his vision to life.
The restaurant features a cozy yet elegant atmosphere, with large windows and outdoor seating at the bustling shopping center.
Head chef Alan Alba is showcasing local ingredients, focusing on seafood, organic produce and Velasquez’s signature ceviche, alongside traditional dishes like carne asada and mole.
“I want to thank everyone who was so patient and waited for us to open,” said Velasquez, a Michelin Bib Gourmand winner.
“I think great things take time.”
4. 4 People Injured in Highway 154 Crash in Santa Ynez Valley
A four-vehicle collision in the Santa Ynez Valley blocked Highway 154 traffic west of Lake Cachuma the afternoon of Sept. 6, but no serious injuries were reported.
As our Janene Scully reported, the crash occurred just after 2 p.m. on a three-lane straightaway in the 1300 block of Highway 154, about a mile east of the Santa Ynez River.
According to the California Highway Patrol, 9-1-1 callers reported that a Volkswagen sedan had swerved into oncoming traffic and collided with a BMW sedan traveling in the opposite direction.
Emergency radio traffic said two other vehicles subsequently were involved in the wreck.
Santa Barbara County fire spokeswoman Karen Cruz-Orduña said American Medical Response ambulances transported four people — one with moderate injuries and the others with minor injuries — to local hospitals.
No identities were released.
The highway was closed for just under an hour as authorities investigated the crash scene and cleaned up debris.
The CHP is investigating the circumstances of the collision.
5. Construction Begins on Goleta Train Depot
The City of Goleta has begun construction on its new, $32 million train depot, which will boast a full-service train station with automated ticketing machines, a waiting area, restrooms, bike storage, a community room and a café.
As our Rebecca Caraway reported, assistant City Manager Jaime Valdez described the 8,500-square-foot depot, at 27 S. La Patera Lane, as a “gateway project” intended to welcome residents and visitors while being environmentally responsible.
“The whole premise behind the funding of this is largely from the state to reduce greenhouse gasses,” he said.
The state Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program contributed $18.6 million for the project through the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments.
The city purchased the site, formerly owned by Direct Relief, for nearly $7 million in 2018, and a groundbreaking was held Sept. 12 to get the station started.
The depot is designed to boost train ridership among commuters, UC Santa Barbara students and travelers at the nearby Santa Barbara Airport.
The project, inspired by community input, is part of a larger initiative to increase train service and usage on the South Coast, including plans for additional runs and Union Pacific track improvements to allow trains to pass each other safely.
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Good Reads
Here are six more stories to read before you go:
» Mark Patton: Aquatics Community Helps Dos Pueblos High’s Cole Racich Get ‘Back To My Life’ — Sports columnist Mark Patton dives into the story of Cole Racich, a teenage Goleta water polo player whose courage and confidence outside the pool are even more impressive than his skills in it.
» Carpinteria Man Dies in Motorcycle Crash Off Casitas Pass Road — It was a deadly week for motorcyclists, and executive editor Giana Magnoli has the details on a fatal crash on Casitas Pass Road.
» Santa Barbara Council OKs Funding Plan for New Police Station — South County editor Josh Molina follows the money in the financing of Santa Barbara’s long-awaited new police station.
» Santa Barbara County Remembers 9/11 on 23rd Anniversary — Staff writer Rebecca Caraway is on hand for the somber remembrance of the 9/11 terrorist attacks that killed nearly 3,000 Americans.
» Judy Foreman: Aging Catches Up with Us Baby Boomers — Columnist Judy Foreman has my number with her latest life observations.
» SBART Co-Founders Caesar Uyesaka, Jerry Harwin Paved the Way for Santa Barbara Sports — Mark Patton pays tribute to the two local legends responsible for founding the Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table, which will induct seven new members into its Hall of Fame on Sept. 16.
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Last Year on Noozhawk
What was our most-read story this time last year? Bill Macfadyen: SBCC Theater Arts Student’s Isla Vista Cliff Fall a Tragedy All the Way Around.
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What I’m Up To
Although I’m not looking for a free meal, I occasionally do have free time if you’re looking for a speaker for your club, group or organization and want to hear more about Noozhawk. Email me at wmacfadyen@noozhawk.com.
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Bill Macfadyen’s Story of the Week
The magnitude of this tidbit might shake you: How Large Gold Nuggets Form in Quartz Crystals During Earthquakes.
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Best of Bill’s Instagram
There was a lot of burnt orange in my Instagram feed this past week, along with my favorite grandson.
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Watch It
I’m going out on a limb, or two, or eight, to say I bet you didn’t know this about octopuses. Because I didn’t either. HT to Best of Bill reader Miriam Gonzalez.
